Bangladesh - May 2025

On 12 May, the interim government imposed a temporary ban on the Awami League (AL), former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's party, restricting the party’s online and offline political activities, including rallies and protests. The ban, executed under the amended Anti-Terrorism Act, follows protests calling for AL to be designated a terrorist organization. Shortly thereafter, the Election Commission suspended AL’s registration, disqualifying AL from contesting polls. The ban will remain in place until the country’s domestic war crimes tribunal – the International Crimes Tribunal - concludes its trial against the party and its leaders over the deaths from last year’s anti-government protests. The ban also coincides with an ordinance that expands the Tribunal's reach to include collective political organizations, rather than just individuals. Rights experts and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volter Turk have noted that the ban restricts rights rather than promoting accountability in a trial that could potentially last years.

Sources: Human Rights Watch, The Daily Star (1), The Diplomat, International IDEA, The Daily Star (2)